Leakage detection and compensation system

A flame sensing system having a flame rod, a signal generator, a signal measurement circuit, and a controller, where the frequency and/or amplitude of the excitation signal may be variable. The signal measurement circuit may include a bias circuitry that references the flame signal to a voltage, a capacitor that varies the filtration, an AC coupling capacitor, a current limiting resistor, and a low-pass filter. The system may determine the flame-sensing rod contamination, the stray capacitance of the flame sensing system, and compensate for stray capacitance in the flame sensing system. The flame model may include a circuit that simulates a flame in the presence of the sensing rod, and another circuit that simulates a contact surface between the flame and the sensing rod.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,465, filed May 12, 2005 which is hereby incorporated by reference in the present application.

The present application is related to the following indicated patent applications: entitled “Dynamic DC Biasing and Leakage Compensation”, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/908,463, filed May 12, 2005; entitled “Flame Sensing System”, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/908,466, filed May 12, 2005; entitled “Adaptive Spark Ignition and Flame Sensing Signal Generation System”, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/908,467, filed May 12, 2005; which are all incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention pertains to flame sensing, and particularly to AC leakage detection and compensation relative to flame sensing. More particularly, it pertains to detection and compensation for AC leakage and contamination relative to flame-sensing rods.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates generally to flame sensing circuitry, using a relatively high frequency, of a combustion system and more particularly relates to AC leakage and flame rod contamination detection and compensation of a flame signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative example of a flame model;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another illustrative example of a flame model;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative example of a flame sensing system;

FIG. 4 is schematic diagram of another illustrative example of a flame sensing system;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of overcoming rod surface contamination;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of calibrating the flame sensing system;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of determining the stray capacitance in a combustion system; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of compensating the flame sensing system for stray capacitance.

 DESCRIPTION

There may be a need to detect or compensate contamination build-up on a flame-sensing rod in a combustion system. A flame-sensing rod may be located in a burner of the combustion system to sense the status of the burner, for example, on or off, and then output a signal to a controller signaling the status of the burner. A flame-sensing system may use 50 or 60 hertz line power as excitation energy for the flame signal. Additionally, a system may require a minimum flame current to reliably detect the flame. When the flame-sensing rod is positioned in the burner of the combustion system for an extended period of time, a contamination layer may build-up on the surface of the flame-sensing rod. The contamination layer may be attributable to the contamination in the air that is deposited on the flame-sensing rod while the burner is burning. This contamination layer may act as a resistive layer decreasing the signal strength of the flame signal. If the contamination build-up is great enough, the flame signal may be small enough so that it is undetectable by the controller. This may cause many complications with the operation of the combustion system, leading to frequent maintenance of the combustion system.

Flame sensing systems may have heavy filtration that results in slow response times. It may be desirable to have a flame sensing system that is capable of a fast response time and that can determine and compensate for contamination build-up on the flame-sensing rod. Using a high frequency flame excitation signal may help to speed up system response time. But if the flame sensing wire is long, it may create a relatively high stray capacitance that reduces the flame signal. It may be desirable to detect and compensate the AC leakage effect of the stray capacitance.

In one illustrative example, an approach of operating a flame sensing system may include providing a flame excitation signal at a first frequency, determining a characteristic of the flame signal, and adjusting the first frequency of the flame excitation signal to a second or next frequency. The illustrative example may also include connecting an additional component to the flame sensing system. In some cases, the characteristic may be stored in memory. The characteristic of the flame signal at the second or next frequency may be substantially similar to the characteristic of the first flame signal. The characteristic of the flame at the second or next frequency may be stored in memory. In one case, a characteristic of the flame signal may be the alternating current (AC) component of the flame signal.

In another case, the illustrative example may further include determining the characteristic at the second or next frequency, applying a calibration value to the characteristic at the second or next frequency, comparing the characteristic at the first frequency and to the calibrated characteristic at the second or next frequency, storing the change between the characteristic at the first frequency to the characteristic at the second or next frequency after calibration, in the memory, and providing a controller to control the flame sensing system if the change in the characteristic stored in the memory is outside a threshold range. In addition, the controller may control the flame sensing system by varying the excitation signal strength. Alternatively, the controller may control the flame sensing system by providing a warning signal. In some cases, the flame rod contamination rate may be controlled by adjusting the excitation signal amplitude. In one case, the characteristic of the first flame signal may be the flame current.

In another illustrative example, an approach of determining capacitance may include providing a flame signal where the flame rod and a wire are attached, determining a characteristic of the flame signal, comparing the characteristic of the flame signal to a stored value, and calculating the stray capacitance. In one case, applying a numerical correction to the flame signal may compensate the effect of the stray capacitance. In another case, adjusting the excitation signal strength may compensate the effect of stray capacitance.

In yet another illustrative example, a flame sensing system may include a flame rod, a signal generator that generates an excitation signal, a signal measurement circuit, and a controller to control the excitation signal, where the frequency and/or amplitude of the excitation signal may be varied. In some cases, the signal measurement circuit may include a bias circuitry that references the flame signal to a voltage, a capacitor that varies the filtration, an AC coupling capacitor, a current limiting resistor, and a low-pass filter.

In another illustrative example, a flame model may include a circuit that simulates the flame, where the circuit includes a two resistors and a diode, and another circuit that simulates a contact surface between the flame and the flame sensing rod, where the latter circuit includes a third resistor and a capacitor.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative example of a flame model. The flame model may include a circuit 2 that may simulate a flame and a circuit 4 that may simulate the contact surface between the flame and the flame-sensing rod. In the example, the flame model may simulate a flame in a combustion system, such as a furnace.

The circuit 2 may include a resistor 10, a resistor 12, and a diode 16. In some cases, the resistor 10 may be in series with the diode 16. The second resistor 12 may be situated in parallel with the resistor 10 and the diode 16. More generally, any circuit that simulates the flame may be used, as desired. In some cases, the resistor 10 and the resistor 12 may be in the range of 1 to 200 mega ohms. Also, in some cases the voltage across the circuits may be in the range of 100 volts or higher. However, it is contemplated that any desirable resistance, current, or voltage may be used to simulate the flame and the flame sensing system, as desired.

The circuit 4 may include a resistor 14 and a capacitor 18. In some cases, the resistor 14 and capacitor 18 may be situated in parallel with each other. More generally, any circuit that can simulate the flame to rod contact surface may be used, as desired. In the example, in the case of no contamination, the resistor 14 may be relatively small. Alternatively, under the circumstance where contamination build-up may be present on the flame-sensing rod, the resistor 14 may have a higher resistance than when there is no contamination. This higher resistance may decrease the flame signal, making it more difficult to detect. The capacitance of 18 may also change with contamination. By varying the frequency of the flame excitation signal, there may be a better flame current, enabling detection of the flame even when the contamination on the surface of the flame-sensing rod is heavy. When the excitation frequency is a lower frequency, the capacitor 18 may have a higher impedance and may have a less substantial effect on the circuit. When there is a higher excitation frequency, the capacitor 18 may have a greater effect on the circuit and may provide a capacitance path for the flame signal to travel. In this case, the effect of the resistor 14, which may have a higher resistance, may be less significant.

In the example, the circuit 2 and the circuit 4 may be situated in series with each other. However, any other equivalent arrangement of the circuit 2 and the circuit 4 may be used, as desired.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another illustrative example of a flame model. The example may be an equivalent circuit to that of FIG. 1. As illustrated, the circuit 4 is situated in series with the diode 16 and resistor 10 of the circuit 2. This series combination may then be situated in parallel with the resistor 12. More generally, any equivalent circuit to the example in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 is contemplated and may be used, as desired.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative example of a flame sensing system. The flame sensing system may include a flame-sensing rod 306, a signal generator 304 that generates an excitation signal, and a controller 302 to control the frequency and the amplitude of the excitation signal, where the frequency and/or the amplitude of the excitation signal may be variable. The flame sensing system may also include a signal measurement circuit 308. In some cases, the signal measurement circuit 308 may include an alternating current (AC) coupling capacitor 310, a current limiting resistor 312, a low-pass filter 314, a bias circuit 316, and a capacitor 318. In some cases, the flame sensing system may also include a capacitor 320 which may simulate the stray capacitance. In one case, the signal generator 304 may be a high voltage AC excitation signal generator. The signal generator 304 may have a variable frequency and a variable amplitude control. The variable amplitude control may include an on/off control. Having a variable frequency and amplitude for the excitation signal may be advantageous under some circumstance. For example, if the contact resistance (R3) 14 is high, a higher frequency may be needed to penetrate the contact surface via the capacitance (C1) 18. But if the stray capacitance 320 is relatively high, the high-frequency flame excitation signal may be greatly reduced which may cause problems detecting the flame signal. In this case, the high frequency may be needed along with increasing the excitation signal amplitude to boost the flame signal strength. Another consideration in determining the excitation signal strength is that the flame-sensing rod 306 surface contamination may increase at a greater rate with higher excitation signal. The excitation signal frequency may be determined with the flame response time requirement and rod condition to maintain a desired flame signal level at the flame-sensing rod 306. The excitation frequency and amplitude may be adjusted to maintain the desired flame-signal as the flame-sensing rod 306 becomes more contaminated. Under some circumstances, it may be desirable to have an initial low excitation energy and to increase the excitation energy or frequency as desired.

In the example, the controller 302 may have a flame sensing algorithm package installed. The controller 302 may control the signal generator 304, such as the frequency, amplitude, or any other parameters, as desired. Additionally, the controller 302 may detect and store characteristics of the flame signal. In some cases, the characteristics may be the AC component of the signal and/or the frequency of the flame signal. The controller 302 may sense the flame signal at the A-to-D input pin of the controller 302. The controller 302 may control the capacitor 318, which may attach to the open-drain output of the controller 302. In some cases, the controller 302 may be a micro-controller.

The AC coupling capacitor 310 may be situated next to the signal generator 304. The AC coupling capacitor 310 may allow the AC component of the excitation signal to pass and block the direct current (DC) component of the excitation signal. In some cases, the AC coupling capacitor 310 may have a small capacitance. However, any capacitance as desired may be used. As illustrated, the current limiting resistor 312 may be situated next to the excitation signal generator 304. The current limiting resistor 312 may limit the current flow of the signal to a maximum value for safety reasons, as well as other reasons. In some cases, the current limiting resistor 312 may have a high resistance, low resistance, or any resistance as desired.

In the example, node 1 330 may be shown between the current limiting resistor 312 and the low-pass filter 314. In some cases, node 1 330 may have a voltage of approximately 300 volts AC peak-to-peak. However, there may be any voltage at node 1 as desired. Between node 1 and the flame sensing A/D input of the controller 302 may be a low-pass filter 314 and a bias circuit 316. The low-pass filter 314 may attenuate the AC component of the flame signal so that the AC signal amplitude may be within the linear range of the AD converter, but may yet be high enough to be detectable by the controller. The low-pass filter 314 may include a resistor 324 and a capacitor 322. The bias circuitry 316 may reference the voltage of the signal to a desired value. In other words, the bias circuitry may set the bias voltage of the detected flame signal. In some cases, the DC component of the flame signal may be negative in polarity; the bias circuit 316 may pull up the signal to positive so that the A/D converter may better sense the signal. The bias circuit 316 may include resistor 326 and resistor 328. The values of the resistor may be any values that may give a desired reference voltage to the flame excitation signal, as desired.

In the example, node 2 332 may be located between the low-pass filter 314 and the bias circuitry 316. Between node 2 and the open-drain I/O pin of the controller 302 may be the capacitor 318. In some cases, capacitor 318 may vary the filtration of the flame sensing system. In some cases, the open-drain I/O pin may act similar to a MOSFET. There may be no pull-up resistance. If the pin is on, it may ground the pin, if off, there is no connection. Under some circumstances, capacitor 318 may be attached or unattached as controlled by the controller. The capacitor 318 may be controllable. In some cases, the frequency can vary in a wide range without generating too high or too low AC component at the A/D input. In one case, if a higher frequency is used, the capacitor 318 may be disconnected. In another case, if a lower frequency is used, the capacitor 318 may be engaged to reduce the AC component of the flame excitation signal so that the A/D input may handle the signal. Under some circumstances, the capacitance value may be determined to make the AC component signal at the A/D about the same level when the frequency is changed. For example, if the frequency can be 1 kHz or 20 kHz, the capacitor 318 may have about 19 times the value of the capacitor 322 in the low-pass filter. More additional capacitors and their controlling pins may be used as necessary if more excitation frequencies are to be used. Adding the additional capacitor may be a way to handle the AC component change. Another way to handle AC component amplitude change when frequency of the excitation signal changes may be to select the low-pass filter so that the AC component amplitude is within the linear range of the A/D when the frequency is at the lowest. This may need good A/D resolution or wide dynamic range of the A/D.

Still another method may be to heavily filter the AC component. This will disable some of the other features of this invention but works fine with claim 1 related part.

Between node 1 330 and the ground may be a capacitor 320 to simulate the stray capacitance between the flame wire (including flame rod) and the ground. This capacitor 320 may act as part of a voltage divider under some circumstances. In some cases, the capacitor 320 may be in the range of 20 to 200 picofarads. However, any capacitance value that may represent the real stray capacitance may be used, as desired. The flame sensing circuit may be able to detect and compensate the effect of capacitor 320. If the signal generator 304 provides a higher frequency excitation signal, the flame signal loss due to this capacitance may be increased. In some cases, the signal frequency may be in the range of 10 to 20 kHz. However, any frequency may be provided by the signal generator, as desired.

One advantage of the example is the reduced filtration of the system. By having reduced filtration, the AC component of the flame signal may be less depleted at the A-to-D input of the controller 302. Some flame-sensing systems may have greater filtration, such as multiple stages of low-pass filter 314, which reduce the AC component of the flame signal and slow down the system response time. Additionally, since the example may have a reduced filtration, the flame sensing system may have a much quicker system response time. The quicker system response time may allow the detection of fast flame level changes, which some other systems do not allow for. The fast system response time may be needed for many applications. Furthermore, by having fewer components, the cost may also be less than other systems.

FIG. 4 is schematic diagram of another illustrative example of a flame sensing system. The flame sensing system is similar to the example of FIG. 3. However, the signal generator may include a variable high voltage DC generator 403 and an AC excitation signal generator 405. The controller may still control and vary the excitation signal strength and the excitation signal frequency. In this example, the current limiting resistor 412 may be situated between node 1 430 and the flame rod 406 as opposed to between node 1 430 and the AC coupling capacitor 410.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of detecting and overcoming rod surface contamination. Under some circumstances, it may be desirable to obtain more information about the flame or condition of the flame-sensing rod and burn assembly. The flame current may be measured at the first frequency with the additional filtration capacitance not engaged 502. The frequency may be changed to the second or next frequency and the additional filtration capacitor may be engaged 504. The second or next frequency may be the lower frequency determined and stored during calibration. The flame current may be measured at the second frequency 506. Then the calibration value may be applied to the measured value of the flame signal 508. Then the flame current at the first frequency may be compared to the flame current after the calibration has been applied 510. The flame current ratio at two different frequencies may be calculated. If the appliance is new (the flame rod surface is clean), this ratio may be stored in non-volatile memory 512. Later if the ratio is changed significantly, then the rod may have a contamination layer. The controller may vary the excitation signal strength to compensate rod contamination (not shown). In some cases, the controller may provide a warning signal to the user for the contamination 514. The system may use the frequency that produces higher flame current for flame sensing during most of the normal running time 516. When a fast system response time is important, the system may use the frequency that provides faster response for flame sensing (not shown).

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of calibrating the additional filtration capacitor. In some cases, the flame sensing system may be calibrated at the factory prior to shipping. Alternatively, in other cases, the flame sensing system may be calibrated after it has been shipped. When calibrating, the flame wire and flame-sensing rod may be unattached from the sensing system. The controller may provide a flame excitation signal at a first frequency 602. The flame excitation signal may have a fixed voltage level and the additional filtration capacitor may be disengaged to the flame sensing system. A component of the flame excitation signal may then be sensed 604 by the controller. In some cases, the component of the flame excitation signal may be an AC component. The AC component of the flame excitation signal may be sensed by the controller at its A/D input. This value of the AC component may be stored and saved as the calibration AC component 606. Then, an additional component may be connected to the flame signal circuitry 608. In some cases, the additional component may be the additional filtration capacitor. However, any additional circuitry may be connected to the flame sensing system, as desired. Next, the frequency of the flame signal may be adjusted to a second frequency 610. At the second frequency, the amplitude of the AC component of the excitation signal may be the same as the amplitude of the AC component at the first frequency. In some cases, the voltage level of the flame excitation signal may be substantially maintained. This second frequency may be a lower frequency than the first frequency. However, under some circumstances, the second frequency may be higher than the first frequency, the same frequency, or any frequency as desired. The second frequency may be stored in memory 612. In some cases, the memory may be non-volatile memory. The second frequency may be used in run time as the lower frequency.

Alternatively, the control may use two fixed frequencies and may calculate a calibration constant to compensate for the inaccuracies of the additional filtration capacitor. The calibration constant may be stored in memory. The memory may be non-volatile memory. The calibration constant may be used in run time.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of determining the effect of stray capacitance on a flame sensing system. In some cases, the effect of stray capacitance may be determined after installation of the system prior to the first time of normal operation of the combustion system. The flame-sensing rod and flame wire may be attached to the flame signal circuitry 702. The controller 704 may detect the AC component of the flame signal. When being detected, the flame might not be established so that there may be little or no current flowing to or from the flame sensing rod, and the flame signal may have the same excitation voltage as during calibration and the first frequency as used during calibration step 604. The AC component of the flame signal may be compared to the stored calibrated AC component value 706. Then the stray capacitance may be calculated 708. In one case, if there is a stray capacitance created by the flame sensing system, the AC component may be lower then the calibrated AC component. However, the effect of stray capacitance may cause any change in the AC component of the flame signal.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart of an illustrative process of compensating the flame sensing system for the effect of stray capacitance. If it is determined that there is stray capacitance in the flame sensing system 802, the flame signal may be compensated. The effect of stray capacitance on the flame-sensing rod may reduce the excitation signal strength at the flame. One illustrative approach of flame signal compensation is to apply a numerical correction to the flame signal 806. The controller may apply the numerical correction. In some cases, the excitation signal may remain constant 804. Another illustrative approach to compensate the flame signal is to adjust the excitation signal amplitude 808, so that the AC component may be maintained at the same level as in calibration step 606.

In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner or tense.

Although the invention has been described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present specification. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.

Claims

1. A flame sensing system comprising:

a flame rod;
a signal generator that generates an excitation signal for the flame rod;
a signal measurement circuit connected to the signal generator and the flame rod; and
a controller to control frequency and/or amplitude of the excitation signal; and
wherein the signal measurement circuit comprises: a bias circuitry, connected to the controller and signal measurement circuit, that references a flame signal to a voltage; a low pass filter that varies a filtration of the flame signal, connected to the bias circuitry and the flame rod; and an AC coupling capacitor connected to the signal generator and the flame rod.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a current limiting resistor connected in series with the AC coupling capacitor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor coupled between the controller and a node disposed between the low pass filter and the bias circuitry, wherein the capacitor may be attached or unattached electrically as controlled by the controller.

4. A flame sensing system comprising:

a flame rod;
a signal generator that generates an excitation signal for the flame rod;
a signal measurement circuit connected to the signal generator and the flame rod; and
a controller to control frequency and/or amplitude of the excitation signal; and
wherein the signal measurement circuit comprises: a bias circuitry, connected to the controller and signal measurement circuit, that references a flame signal to a voltage; a low pass filter that varies a filtration of the flame signal, connected to the bias circuitry and the flame rod; an AC coupling capacitor connected to the signal generator and the flame rod; and a current limiting resistor connected in series with the AC coupling capacitor.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3425780 February 1969 Potts
3520645 July 1970 Cotton et al.
3649156 March 1972 Conner
3681001 August 1972 Potts
3836857 September 1974 Ikegami et al.
3909816 September 1975 Teeters
4157506 June 5, 1979 Spencer
4221557 September 9, 1980 Jalics
4242079 December 30, 1980 Matthews
4269589 May 26, 1981 Matthews
4280184 July 21, 1981 Weiner et al.
4303385 December 1, 1981 Rudich, Jr. et al.
4370557 January 25, 1983 Axmark et al.
4450499 May 22, 1984 Sorelle
4457692 July 3, 1984 Erdman
4483672 November 20, 1984 Wallace et al.
4521825 June 4, 1985 Crawford
4527247 July 2, 1985 Kaiser et al.
4555800 November 26, 1985 Nishikawa et al.
4655705 April 7, 1987 Shute et al.
4672324 June 9, 1987 van Kampen
4695246 September 22, 1987 Beilfuss et al.
4709155 November 24, 1987 Yamaguchi et al.
4777607 October 11, 1988 Maury et al.
4830601 May 16, 1989 Dahlander et al.
4842510 June 27, 1989 Grunden et al.
4843084 June 27, 1989 Parker et al.
4872828 October 10, 1989 Mierzwinski et al.
4904986 February 27, 1990 Pinckaers
4949355 August 14, 1990 Dyke et al.
4955806 September 11, 1990 Grunden et al.
5026270 June 25, 1991 Adams et al.
5026272 June 25, 1991 Takahashi et al.
5037291 August 6, 1991 Clark
5073769 December 17, 1991 Kompelien
5077550 December 31, 1991 Cormier
5112117 May 12, 1992 Altmann et al.
5126721 June 30, 1992 Butcher et al.
5158477 October 27, 1992 Testa et al.
5175439 December 29, 1992 Harer et al.
5222888 June 29, 1993 Jones et al.
5236328 August 17, 1993 Tate et al.
5255179 October 19, 1993 Zekan et al.
5276630 January 4, 1994 Baldwin et al.
5280802 January 25, 1994 Comuzie, Jr.
5300836 April 5, 1994 Cha
5347982 September 20, 1994 Binzer et al.
5365223 November 15, 1994 Sigafus
5391074 February 21, 1995 Meeker
5424554 June 13, 1995 Marran et al.
5446677 August 29, 1995 Jensen et al.
5472336 December 5, 1995 Adams et al.
5506569 April 9, 1996 Rowlette
5548277 August 20, 1996 Wild
5599180 February 4, 1997 Peters et al.
5667143 September 16, 1997 Sebion et al.
5682329 October 28, 1997 Seem et al.
5722823 March 3, 1998 Hodgkiss
5797358 August 25, 1998 Brandt et al.
5971745 October 26, 1999 Bassett et al.
6060719 May 9, 2000 DiTucci et al.
6071114 June 6, 2000 Cusack et al.
6084518 July 4, 2000 Jamieson
6222719 April 24, 2001 Kadah
6261086 July 17, 2001 Fu
6299433 October 9, 2001 Gauba et al.
6346712 February 12, 2002 Popovic et al.
6349156 February 19, 2002 O'Brien et al.
6356827 March 12, 2002 Davis et al.
6385510 May 7, 2002 Hoog et al.
6457692 October 1, 2002 Gohl, Jr.
6474979 November 5, 2002 Rippelmeyer
6486486 November 26, 2002 Haupenthal
6509838 January 21, 2003 Payne et al.
6552865 April 22, 2003 Cyrusian
6676404 January 13, 2004 Lochschmied
6743010 June 1, 2004 Bridgeman et al.
6782345 August 24, 2004 Siegel et al.
6794771 September 21, 2004 Orloff
6912671 June 28, 2005 Christensen et al.
6917888 July 12, 2005 Logvinov et al.
6923640 August 2, 2005 Canon
7088137 August 8, 2006 Behrendt et al.
7088253 August 8, 2006 Grow
7202794 April 10, 2007 Huseynov et al.
7241135 July 10, 2007 Munsterhuis et al.
7255285 August 14, 2007 Troost et al.
7274973 September 25, 2007 Nichols et al.
7289032 October 30, 2007 Seguin et al.
7327269 February 5, 2008 Kiarostami
7617691 November 17, 2009 Street et al.
7728736 June 1, 2010 Leeland et al.
7764182 July 27, 2010 Chian et al.
7768410 August 3, 2010 Chian
7800508 September 21, 2010 Chian et al.
20020099474 July 25, 2002 Khesin
20030222982 December 4, 2003 Hamdan et al.
20040209209 October 21, 2004 Chodacki et al.
20050086341 April 21, 2005 Enga et al.
20060257805 November 16, 2006 Nordberg et al.
20070159978 July 12, 2007 Anglin et al.
20070188971 August 16, 2007 Chian et al.
20090009344 January 8, 2009 Chian
20090136883 May 28, 2009 Chian et al.
20100013644 January 21, 2010 McDonald et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
0967440 December 1999 EP
1148298 October 2001 EP
9718417 May 1997 WO
Other references
  • All Non-US Patent References Have Been Previously Provided in Parent U.S. Appl. No. 10/908,465, filed May 5, 2005.
  • www.playhookey.com, “Series LC Circuits,” 5 pages, printed Jun. 15, 2007.
  • Honeywell, “S4965 Series Combined Valve and Boiler Control Systems,” 16 pages, prior to the filing date of present application.
  • Honeywell, “SV9410/SV9420; SV9510/SV9520; SV9610/SV9620 SmartValve System Controls,” Installation Instructions, 16 pages, 2003.
Patent History
Patent number: 8659437
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 6, 2010
Date of Patent: Feb 25, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20100265075
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, NJ)
Inventor: Brent Chian (Plymouth, MN)
Primary Examiner: Anh V La
Application Number: 12/831,016
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Flame (340/577); By Radiant Energy (340/578); Radiant Energy (340/600); With Test Circuit Checking Or Analyzing Flame Sensing Circuit For Malfunction (431/24)
International Classification: G08B 17/12 (20060101); F23N 5/20 (20060101);